RARE GERMAN SILVER BAS-RELIEF WAR SCENE PLAQUE / PLAQUETTE, fine detail in high relief, silver (of unknown fineness) probably originally gilt with remnants of the gilding remaining in the low areas, depicting a battle scene which is probably the Battle of Lechfeld, 955 AD, or possibly could be a battle from the Bohemian-Hungarian Wars 1468-1478. In the center of the relief is a highly-armored figure on horseback whose breast plate shows a double-headed eagle, in the lower half of the scene many figures are injured or dying on the ground. Other notable figures include a man on horseback wearing a winged helmet, a man with a turban having a half-moon shaped symbol, and several men with distinct mustaches wearing turbans. Housed in the likely-original carved wooden frame with applied carved elements, an applied thin twisted metal (possibly silver) band, and a very unusual hinged-panel back. No signature located, but "1468" is very-lightly written on the back of the frame evident only in raking light. Probably 16th or 17th century. 10 3/8" x 16 1/4" sight, 17 1/4" x 23" OA.
Catalogue Note: The Battle of Lechfeld was a major turning point in German history. Marking the most significant victory for Otto I (King Otto I the Great), the founding emperor of the German Reich, the defeat of the Magyars ended nearly a century of their pillaging in western Europe. The surviving Magyar people mostly abandoned their nomadic nature and settled leading to the formation of Hungary.
The year 1468 (as written on the back of the frame of the current lot) marks beginning of Bohemian-Hungarian wars. Matthias Corvinus, the King of Hungary, invaded Bohemia with the intention to return the nation to Catholicism. Matthias was somewhat successful in his conquest, laying claim to fairly large amounts of the eastern and southern parts of the country. Both he and the sitting Hussite King, George of Podebrady, would proclaim themselves as king, with neither actually ever having the necessary subordinate titles.
It's unknown for certain which battle this represents, but the Battle of Lechfeld definitely had a lasting impact on German culture. It's possible that the "1468" written on the back is a previous scholar's best guess to attributing the battle to a specific time.

Very good overall condition, the relief with loss to most of the gilt surface, several areas of the relief with possibly as-made holes where the metal was overextended; the frame with losses to the applied carving with other scattered minor to moderate old losses and wear; hardware on the back of the frame with replacement to several of the screws on the likely-original hinges, loss to a portion of the hasp (with wire presently being used to hold the panel shut), and several variations/campaigns of hanging hardware.

Property from the estate of Malcolm Bradley, Richmond, VA.